Lakshmi Mittal’s Ukraine Steel Plant Hit By Russian Missile Attack In Zelensky’s Hometown

New Delhi: In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, massive air strikes took place once again on Sunday night. The Russian missile targeted ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine. Two people lost their lives and 14 people were injured in this attack. This plant, owned by Indian-origin billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, is one of the largest integrated steel units in Ukraine. The attack caused damage to power generation and blast furnace facilities, forcing some work at the plant to be halted.

What happened after the attack on the steel plant?

Following the attack, security and emergency measures were activated at the plant. According to the company, the damage has occurred in those parts which are important for the operation of the plant. Due to the power system being affected, it became difficult to run the production normally and some activities had to be stopped. Kryvyi Rih is a major industrial center of Ukraine and is also the home city of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Did Russia respond after Ukraine drone attack?

The Russian attack came at a time when Ukraine carried out a major drone campaign against Russia. According to Russian officials, hundreds of drones arrived in different parts of the country overnight. Russia's defence ministry claimed to have intercepted 822 Ukrainian drones. A drone fell on a house in the Moscow region, killing an 83-year-old man.

Which areas of Russia did the Ukrainian drone attack reach?

Apart from the Moscow region, Ukraine's drone attacks affected many places including Rostov. There were reports of casualties and damage to property after the attacks in the Rostov region. Many drones were also seen around Moscow. A fire was reported at a Wildberries warehouse following an attack.

How much destruction did Russia's attacks cause in Ukraine?

Russian attacks were not limited to Kryvyi Rih. Missile and drone attacks were carried out in many cities including Kyiv. Fire broke out at many places in the capital. A large book market was also damaged. According to Ukrainian officials, people have also died in attacks in other regions, including Sumy and Zaporozhye.

What did Zelensky say to the allies?

President Zelensky appealed to Western countries to strengthen Ukraine's air defence after the latest attacks. He said Ukraine needed more air defence systems to stop Russian attacks. According to Zelensky, over the past week, Russia has fired more than 1,550 attack drones, about 1,560 guided bombs and 62 missiles at Ukrainian cities.

Are air strikes between the two countries increasing?

Latest developments indicate that Russia and Ukraine are continuously emphasizing long-range attacks on each other's territory. Ukraine is targeting military and logistics targets inside Russia with drones, while Russia is launching missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and industrial infrastructure. Kryvyi Rih's steel plant has become the latest target of these increasing attacks.

Will this attack affect Ukraine's economy?

ArcelorMittal's Kryvyi Rih plant occupies an important place in Ukraine's industrial infrastructure. Frequent attacks on facilities such as electricity and transportation during the war increased the difficulties already faced by industries. Now, damage to the plant's energy and production units may put additional pressure on steel production. However, its economic impact can be assessed only after the complete picture of the loss is revealed.